Bamford 1985.

Study characteristics
Methods	Design: randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over Duration: 6 months (3 months then 3 months reversed) Interval of assessment: 3 months
Participants	Number randomised: 154 Sex (M/F): not stated Age of participants: completers were 49 children aged 2 to 16 years (mean age = 9.1) and 74 adults aged 16 to 66 years (mean age = 37.7) Unit of allocation: single participant Country and setting: USA, single dermatology outpatient department Inclusion criteria of the study Participants having atopic dermatitis Having used topical steroids Diagnostic criteria: clinical Severity of condition: mild to moderate Exclusion criteria of the study Participants using systemic steroids or antimetabolites
Interventions	Treatment group divided as follows: children < 15 years of age, who received 2 or 4 capsules twice daily each with 500 mg of EPO for 3 months, then crossed over; children > 15 years of age, who received 6 or 8 capsules twice daily each with 500 mg of EPO Placebo group divide in the same way as above and same dosage schedule with each capsule having 500 mg of paraffin oil
Outcomes	Symptoms and signs of eczema (erythema, scaling, excoriation, weeping, etc) by physician (method = 0 to 10 scale, where 0 is none and 10 is most severe) Symptoms and signs of eczema (erythema, scaling, excoriation, weeping, etc) and effect on daily living (level of discomfort, inability to sleep, etc) by participant (method = 0 to 10 scale, where 0 is none and 10 is most severe) Interval of assessment: unclear
Notes	Concomittent treatment: permitted emollients, topical steroids, and antihistaminics Compliance to treatment: undertaken Previous treatment: continued The trial report did not state the numbers randomised to each group (further information obtained from trial investigator)
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	The trial used block randomisation
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Specific study numbers were used on labels, which did not contain medication/placebo name. (The trial investigator provided this further information)
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	14/77 participants in the EPO group dropped out; 17/77 participants in the placebo group dropped out. They gave reasons
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	The trial reported all prespecified outcomes
Other bias	Unclear risk	We were unsure whether all participants were included in the analysis in the groups to which they were randomised. We contacted the biostatistician author. A non‐profit foundation funded the trial
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	This was adequate as both the participant and assessor were blinded. The placebo capsules were identical